Investing in a music system could facilitate the journey of a carpet weaving center in Arunachal Pradesh from gloom to a GI (Geographical Indication) boom. Carpets and tapestries have been the unique selling point for the Choephelling Cooperative Society since it was founded in 1975 by Tibetan refugees on the outskirts of Miao, a sub-section headquarters in Changlang District. But productivity dropped after more than four decades, and society found it difficult to replace the aging weavers with younger, faster weavers. Reasons: The carpet unit and the wooden looms were falling apart, and poor lighting hindered the weavers’ eyesight.
Administration Initiative
The scenario changed after the Changlang district administration undertook a 15 lakh project to renovate the carpet weaving center a few months ago. “The old looms were not adjustable. For carpets of different sizes, they had to disassemble and reinstall a loom, which was a day’s waste. The weavers also had to sit on a low wooden block, bend over and stand for different phases of work on a carpet,” said Changlang deputy commissioner Sunny K. Singh.
“We replaced the old looms with 30 third-generation adjustable metal looms and provided ergonomic seats that can be adjusted to four heights, eliminating the need to bend and stand. The interiors were revamped to make them cooler and more airy, while soothing ceiling lights were added for better lighting,” he said. The game changer was a music system worth 68,000. It plays a series of Tibetan and popular songs, often in sync with the movement of the weavers’ hands and fingers.
“The unit’s atmosphere with music floating in the air has greatly impacted the weavers. They are now eight to nine hours behind, compared to five hours earlier. Production has increased significantly, and most importantly, young girls and boys find carpet making a rewarding profession,” said Tenzin Rabjor, the secretary of the cooperative association. At least five young women have joined the center in recent months, he said.
Carpets the mainstay
Carpet weaving is one of the 14 activities of the Choephelling Cooperative Society, run by 2,600 Tibetan refugees from the settlement that sprawls over 2,000 hectares. The society is self-sufficient, controlling almost everything from banking to farming, including running a small tea garden in theterritoryt. Most of the seven crore revenue genethe association generatesich also runs a hotel in Tinsukia in Assam, comes from carpets. Mr. Rabjor hopes that the new unit will contribute to revenues.
In addition to providing infrastructure support to the society, the district administration has contacted the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development to speed up earning the GI tag for the society’s products under the Miao Carpets name. “We are launching an online marketing website for these carpets, which are also custom made,” said Mcustom-madee settlement at Miao is the third for some 1,400 refugees who fled Tibet with the 14th Dalai Lama after the Chinese occupation in 1959. They were previously temporarily located in two places. About 600 refugees from the settlement have migrated to Canada, while 400 have been incorporated into a special forces unit in India.
